From hospital departments to local high schools, the Southeast Texas community showed incredible generosity. Emily Neild, a pre-teen from Nederland, even spearheaded her own drive for craft supplies and DVDs. Neild lives with mitochondrial disease and has spent a significant amount of time in the hospital. She knows how important it is for hospitals to have activities that will keep kids’ minds off of treatment during their stay. With the help of friends and family, Neild donated over $3,000 worth of craft supplies and DVDs.

Donations made to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through the Toy Drive of Southeast Texas will provide entertainment for pediatric patients at CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth throughout the year.

4 Ever Rollin Car ClubBeaumont United High School Football TeamCHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth: Business ServicesLamar University Dance MarathonCHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth: Health InformaticsCHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth: Revenue IntegrityWest Brook High School Golf Team

This Valentine’s Day, Neches Federal Credit Union hosted a bake sale to raise money for their local Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals, CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth and Jasper Memorial. They invited members to stop by one of their locations and pick up some Valentine treats. Neches employees also chose to participate in the Miracle Jeans Day campaign by making a donation to CMN Hospitals in exchange for wearing jeans on Valentine’s Day.

The Evans family has a particular health insurance that does not offer breast pump coverage and were unable to afford to buy one. The CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation was thrilled to be able to offer this amazing gift.

“In order to comply with our Baby Friendly Designation guidelines, we are to provide resources for families to help them successfully breastfeed. With approximately 60% of our mothers returning to work after 6-8 weeks, a double electric breast pump is essential for continuing breastfeeding during this transition. A small population of patients is unable to obtain a pump through private or medicate insurance providers and do not have the means to purchase a pump for home use.

We are grateful to have received funds from the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation to initiate the Breast Pump Gift Program to ensure every mother has a breast pump for home use at discharge. Providing a breast pump can increase the length of time a mother breastfeeds, thus extending the many health benefits of mother’s milk for mom and baby.”

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation hosted the 8th Annual Shootin’ for a Miracle Clay Shoot on Saturday, March 3 at the One-in-One Hundred Gun Club in Lumberton, Texas.

Four-person teams took to the range to participate in this friendly competition benefiting our community. From novice to champion shooters, the clay shoot provided a fun way for everyone to practice their skills while supporting a great cause.

Congratulations to our winners:

Lewis Class: Division I Highest Overall Team – Echo Group

Lewis Class: Division II First Place – Beaumont Bone & Joint Team 1

Lewis Class: Division III First Place – Outdoor Media Group

Highest Overall Man – Wes Chessner (Echo Group)

Highest Overall Woman – Patricia Walker (CHRISTUS HWC)

Around the World First Place – Grady Gibbons (ISC)

We are extremely grateful to all of the sponsors, participants, and volunteers who helped make Shootin’ for a Miracle a success. Thank you and we hope to you see you again next year!

It’s that time of year again! Join us this year for the 39th Annual CHRISTUS Gala starring Little Big Town. Little Big Town has earned over 35 award show nominations and in the past five years has taken home nearly 20 awards, including multiple Grammy, CMA and ACM awards, and an Emmy award. Little Big Town are nominated for best country duo/group performance for this year’s 2019 Grammy for the song “When Someone Stops Loving You.”

Each year, the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation continues to raise the bar by offering world class entertainment, five-star cuisine, and elegant ambiance. Past CHRISTUS Gala entertainers include Keith Urban, James Taylor, Reba McEntire, Don Henley, Aretha Franklin, and Harry Connick, Jr., just to name a few. The much anticipated and always exceptional Gala brings the community together to celebrate the CHRISTUS mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.

Jim Willis, Legacy Award Recipient

The black tie benefit provides an opportunity for an intimate evening of entertainment starting with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at 7 p.m. followed by a gourmet meal at 8, all leading to the Little Big Town performance at 9:30. Tables for eight start at $3000 and individual seating starts at $375. Seating is limited and expected to sell out quickly.

The proceeds from the Gala go towards funding life-saving equipment for CHRISTUS Hospitals in Southeast Texas. Past galas have helped raise funds for major medical equipment such as 3D Mammography and Cancer equipment.

Dr. Robert Birdwell, Gala Honoree

Joy and Will Crenshaw will be the Gala Chairs this year and the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation is excited to be spotlighting two community members: Jim Willis as the Legacy Award Recipient and Dr. Robert Birdwell for his decades of service.

“We are excited to offer the community a night of stellar entertainment with Little Big Town. They span musical genres with their country foundation and pop influenced music. We pride ourselves on throwing the biggest party of the year, and I know we will live up to that promise again at this year’s gala,” said Ivy Pate, Foundation President.

With the end of the year just around the corner, now is an excellent time for you to review your charitable contribution. You might want to make a list to ensure that you have taken full advantage of all of the tax saving deductions available to you. Here are some ideas for year-end planning that can help support our cause and benefit you.

CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

A simple gift of cash or an unneeded asset can assist our work and provide you with valuable tax savings.

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY

Double your benefits while making a gift and receiving cash back. A gift annuity gives you income tax advantages this year while providing you with dependable payments for life at fixed rates as high as 9.5%.

IRA CHARITABLE ROLLOVER

If Congress again passes the IRA charitable rollover. You can transfer up to $100,000 directly from your IRA to a qualified nonprofit without paying federal income tax.

ADDITIONAL TAX SAVINGS

Be sure to review your mortgage, medical, education, business and other miscellaneous expenses to determine if there are additional ways you can save on taxes this year. Check your list against your advisor’s recommendations to avoid missing any significant deductions. Congress has changed the rules in recent years. If you haven’t visited your attorney to review your estate plan, you should make an appointment before the end of the year or early in the new year. Your plans may need to be updated, particularly if you have experienced life changes. Please contact us for help. We can refer you to qualified attorneys and advisors and provide you with a free guide to make your planning easier.

“Your gifts underwrite the work of the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation which provides vital equipment and programs for our hospitals. Thank you for your support of our mission to extend the healing ministries of Jesus Christ.” -Ivy Pate, President

The CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation is happy to announce a $2,500 grant from the Junior League of Beaumont to help purchase Pack N Plays for the Infant Safe Sleep Program at CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital. These Pack N Plays – portable cribs – will be offered at no charge to families in financial need.

The CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation originally applied for a $1,500 grant, but Junior League members were so moved by the need for area mothers that they increased the grant to $2,500!

As there are no resources available in the state of Texas for families who need financial assistance with purchasing safe sleep cribs or bassinets, St. Elizabeth will now proudly offer this vital resource to our families and their babies.

CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital has implemented several layers of Safe Infant Sleep education including prenatal classes, education during hospital stays, safe sleep room audits, and discharge interviews to verify a safe sleep plan. We hope that offering free Pack N Plays to those families who need it most will enhance this potentially life-saving program.

Every year, 3,500 U.S. babies die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or sleep related injuries. The CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital nursing and physician staff are determined to make sure every family has an American Academy of Pediatrics approved Pack N Play crib in order to provide a safe place for their baby to sleep at home.

“Because of the Junior League of Beaumont and their generous contribution, we are able to offer families a safe place for their newborn to sleep at home when they can’t afford one. The Pack-N-Play Program is a resource St. Elizabeth can now provide Southeast Texas families to decrease risks of SIDS and sleep-related injuries to infants,” said Stacie Leblanc, Lead Lactation Consultant at CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital.

CHRISTUS Health associates put on their favorite superhero shirts to offer courage, strength and hope for children. The shirts, and in some cases capes, were all part of a special fundraiser for CHRISTUS pediatric facilities and departments. Promoted as an extra day to wear jeans on Thursday, October 25, CHRISTUS Associates at the system offices in Irving donated $5, and some donated more, to help support the real superheroes out in our CHRISTUS ministries.

The money raised went to purchase Halloween costumes for patients at Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances in Tyler and CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth in Beaumont. If their need for costumes has already been met, the money raised will go to purchase fun activities like books and crayons for kids.

Every day is a battle for these young, brave patients as well as their parents and caregivers who find the strength to fight and care for their children. Money raised amounted to almost $2,000. Way to go to the super heroes at the CHRISTUS Health system office!

The Market Basket Foundation hosted a Celebrity Turkey Bowl on November 8, 2018. 16 local celebrities gathered to compete on behalf of the charity of their choice at Market Basket in Beaumont, Texas. Teams of two took turns rolling a 12-pound, frozen turkey down the aisle toward 10 bowling pins. Don Brake with NASH FM 101.7 and Jazzie Redd with Magic 102.5 chose to compete for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

After an entertaining morning filled with flying frozen poultry, Greg Kerr and Kimberly Rusley with FOX 4 were crowned Turkey Bowl Champions. Market Basket awarded them an impressive trophy and donated $1,000 to the charity of their choice. As for everyone else, Market Basket generously donated $500 to each celebrity’s selected charity.

Thank you, Market Basket, for hosting such an entertaining competition and for your generous donation. And, special thanks to Don and Jazzie for participating on behalf of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The donation we received will help sick and injured kids in Southeast Texas get the life-saving medical care they deserve.